What legacy will you leave behind?
I was again reminded of my mortality when a young daughter of our tenant passed away recently due to brain cancer. She was 34 years old. She was in and out of the hospital for almost a year, until she was called back to our Creator.
I could not help but reflect on the briefness of life. Today, we are here; tomorrow we will be gone. We have to remind ourselves now and then that we are just travelers in this world. No one could come out alive from this world. When the curtain of life falls, there’s nothing we can do, but to bow down to the drama of life.
Fr. Villy Cortes related to those present during the wake of Harmony Capala-Pondar this story. “A man had the following requests before he passed away: His six doctors would be around his coffin; his riches should be displayed around his coffin; and his palms be opened.”
Fr. Cortes asked, “What is the implication of these three requests?” No matter how many good doctors we have, they cannot protect us from the snatch of death; no matter how rich we are, we can never bring them with us; we were born into this world with nothing, so we leave this world with nothing.”
Fr. Cortes asked the husband, family members and friends how they would described the diseased in one word. The husband, Kirk commented, “Perfect; the mother Fe Capala, “Loving”, a sister, “Caring,” and a friend, “Strong.”
Fr. Cortes said, “These are beautiful descriptions for the diseased, but what is important is what good things we do to others, is our legacy when we will leave this world. What is your legacy when you will leave this world?”
Sharon Smith of “RemedyGrove website,” exclaimed, “ No matter what course our lives take, we are all inevitably destined to die. The day of our death has been said to be the most important day of our life because this critical day is one where our entire life is measured. As we go through our journey in life, we continuously create a personal legacy. Our legacy is the part of ourselves that will be left in the hearts and minds of others we will leave behind. How do you want to be remembered?
Going back to the question of Fr. Cortes, “What is your legacy when you will leave this world?” What will people think of you if you die today?
If we were gone today, Sharon suggests the following statements that may help us to begin creating our list:
What do my family members think of me and what will they remember most about me?
Have I learned from past mistakes and changed my life accordingly?
Do I need to make amends to anyone?
Have I made a positive impact on my children, grandchildren, and friends?
What are my morals, values and beliefs? Would I want others to follow in my footsteps?
Did I live a respectable life that others would use as an example to follow?
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